The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has reaffirmed its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the anti-graft agency as central to Nigeria’s tax enforcement drive.
FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, made the remarks on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to EFCC headquarters in Abuja. He stressed that voluntary compliance could only be achieved through strong preventive systems backed by visible enforcement.
“We cannot pursue 200 million Nigerians individually to do the right thing, but we want to put a system in place that will aid compliance. You can help us by letting people know that when they violate the law, there is a place you can keep them,” Adedeji said.
The tax chief also disclosed that recently signed Tax Acts, which transform FIRS into the Nigerian Revenue Service, will take effect in January 2026. He noted that compliance would improve when taxpayers saw results from revenue collection, while praising EFCC’s support in fraud risk control.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, pledged continued collaboration, pointing to a recent Court of Appeal ruling that reaffirmed EFCC’s powers to investigate tax fraud. “When they see EFCC beside FIRS, that will send a signal to the public that it is no longer business as usual,” he said.
Both agencies pledged to deepen cooperation to strengthen Nigeria’s revenue system, safeguard public funds, and boost voluntary tax compliance.
